FREMANTLE FOOTBALL CLUB

Project Description

Programmed has a proud history as a West Australian company. Part of this history is our long-time association with the Fremantle Dockers, the Fremantle Football Club, and more recently the Club’s engagement of Programmed in 2011 to maintain the Fremantle Oval.

Project Solution

Programmed has a full-time groundsperson assigned to look after the Fremantle Oval at Parry Road, who starts as early as 5am to ensure the grounds are all ready for training. On average, the four to five hours following this early start involves mowing the surface, marking out the oval and sanding divots. Programmed also regularly conducts core ground sampling to test the Oval’s moisture and ensure a healthy, bug-free turf with a good root system.

“Programmed does a good job looking after the Oval. There’s a lot of work to be done given the age of the surface, and they maintain it to an excellent standard,” says Steve Rosich, Chief Executive Officer, Fremantle Football Club. The grounds maintenance work Programmed provides this elite training facility is integral to the Dockers’ success. “It’s super important as our club’s key assets – our players – play and train on this facility,” explains Mr Rosich.

In the 2013 Qualifying Final, the Fremantle Dockers were set to play Geelong at Simonds Stadium. Programmed were able to put in place the exact dimensions of the Simonds Stadium at the Fremantle Oval. “It made possible the transition of going down there in such a big game, a Grand Final, understanding that our training throughout the week simulated what we would experience in the weekend. The Programmed grounds team has done a fantastic job at maintaining our Oval. It’s this expertise that has seen the club engage them for the design and build process for our new training facility,” Matthew Pavlich, Captain of the Fremantle Football Club, said.

The Club has engaged Programmed for its move to the new $106 million facility at Cockburn Central West. “Programmed’s long-standing partnership with us and their expertise in major facilities management is a key reason we’ve chosen them to partner with us,” said Mr Rosich. The scope of works for this includes the design and build of the club’s elite training oval in addition to its establishment and eventual maintenance.

Project Outcome

“Programmed’s partnership with the club has been in place almost as long as the careers of Aaron Sandilands and Matthew Pavlich. I doubt whether this would have been without playing on a surface that wasn’t managed by Programmed,” concludes Mr Rosich.